Tall Ships boost for Albert Dock

Jul 24 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Albert Dock has announced record visitor figures following the Tall Ships visit.

The dock, which hosted some of the smaller class vessels, welcomed 464,550 visitors over the four-day festival, an increase of 69.2% compared with the same period last year.

Leonard Eppel, the man who created the vision for the docks back in the 1980s, was back in Liverpool to see the their renaissance.

Eppel, as chairman of London developers Arrowcroft, single-handedly convinced its board the unique atmosphere of the dock could not afford to be lost. Joe Edge, director of the Albert Dock Company invited Mr Eppel to a special reception along with other prominent businessmen.

Mr Edge said: “The Tall Ships weekend has without doubt been the most success- ful period in the Albert Dock’s history since its regeneration 20 years ago.”